Electrical-Driven Directed-Evolution of Copper Nanowires Catalysts for Efficient Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

The electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate (NO ) to NH (NORR) at ambient conditions offers a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. The pivotal factors in optimizing the proficient conversion of NO into NH include enhancing the adsorption capabilities of the intermediates on the catalyst surface and expediting the hydrogenation steps. Herein, the Cu/CuO/Pi NWs catalyst is designed based on the directed-evolution strategy to achieve an efficient reduction of NO‾.

Ag-Co O -CoOOH-Nanowires Tandem Catalyst for Efficient Electrocatalytic Conversion of Nitrate to Ammonia at Low Overpotential via Triple Reactions.

The electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate (NO ‾) to NH  (NO RR) offers a promising alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. However, the overall kinetic rate of NO RR is plagued by the complex proton-assisted multiple-electron transfer process. Herein, Ag/Co O /CoOOH nanowires (i-Ag/Co O  NWs) tandem catalyst is designed to optimize the kinetic rate of intermediate reaction for NO RR simultaneously.

Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Based on DNA-Templated Copper Nanoclusters.

In alkaline solutions, the electrocatalytic conversion of nitrates to ammonia (NH) (NORR) is hindered by the sluggish hydrogenation step due to the lack of protons on the electrode surface, making it a grand challenge to synthesize NH at a high rate and selectivity. Herein, single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA)-templated copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were synthesized for the electrocatalytic production of NH. Because ssDNA was involved in the optimization of the interfacial water distribution and H-bond network connectivity, the water-electrolysis-induced proton generation was enhanced on the electrode surface, which facilitated the NORR kinetics.